Electrical switch



No. 626,9l8.

rimmed lune I3, 18% P. MEDARY.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

(Application filed Sept. 8, 1898.)

(No Model.)

Qwvcmeoow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL MEDARY, OF OYN\VYD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VINCENTA. CLARKE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,918, dated June 13,1899. Application filed September 2, 1898. Serial No. 690,132. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern: ing parts, resulting in simplicity'ofconstruc- Be it known that I, PAUL MEDARY, a citition and durability.zen of the United States, residing at Oynwyd, The objects of theinvention are accomin the county of Montgomery and State of plished by aconstruction as illustrated in Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand the accompanying drawings, wherein useful Improvements in ElectricalSwitches; Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved and I do herebydeclare the following to be a switch. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal verticalsecfull, clear, and exact description of theinvention of the same. Fig.3 is a plan view with tion, such as will enable others skilled in thethe cap-plate removed. Fig. 4 is a longitu- IO art to which itappertainsto make and use dinal section of the push-rod and itsassocithe same. ated collars, showing the rod in elevation.

This invention relates to improvements in Theconstruction shown in thedrawings has electrical switches designed more particularly by actualtest been found to be eminently for use in connection with circuitsfor'incansatisfactory. Itis to be understood, however,

[5 descent lights; and the invention is embodied that the invention isnot necessarily limited 6 5' in the construction and arrangement ofparts to the exact construction shown, for it is evihereinafterdescribed, and defined in the dent that changes in arrangement,proporclaims. tion, and details can be made without de- It is awell-known fact that there are many parting from the nature andprinciple of the 2o defects found to exist in and objections to theinvention.

well-known form of push-button for mak Adesignates a supporting-block,of insulat- 1 ing or breaking a circuit, and the same may ing material,formed with a central longitube said to be true with relation to theturndinal bore having enlargements at its oppobutton type of switch. Inthe former type site ends, inwhich are inserted and secured 25 acomplicated mechanism and spring-actuin any convenient manner electricaltermiated members are necessary, the complicated nals B 13, conveniently of brass or other suitnature of the mechanism and use of thespring able material. These terminals are preferoften resulting in thedisplacement of the ably of uniform length, and their interior parts aswell as the wearing out or breaking diameter corresponds with thediameter of 0 of some of the connections. In the turn the bore of theblock, thereby forming a conbutton type it is sometimes found thatpertinuous bore through the block and termisons not entirely familiarwith the same will nals, which is of uniform diameter throughendeavor toturn on the light by turning the out. Each terminal has an offset b bconvenbutton in the wrong direction, and, further, iently arranged inopposite directions relative 3 5 that the necessity of turning thelights out to each other and each provided'with bindingby a continuousturning of the button or hanposts or screws 0 O. The upper portion ofthe dle is quite perplexing to certain individuals block is chambered,as at D, in which the offwho have originally been used to the turningset and binding-posts at the upper or outer on of gas,which requires areverse movement end are located;

0 to extinguish the light. E designates a metallic cap-plate spanning Myinvention is designed to overcome the the chambered end of the block andhaying difficulties and objections existingin the presa central opening6, through which the push ent-known devices, and it may be stated as orswitch rod passes. consisting generally in a switch of that type Theblock A is conveniently of cylindrical 45 wherein the making andbreaking of a circuit formation, although any formation desirable 5 areaccomplished by a direct in-and-out pull may be employed, and the sameis formed with Y of the movable member. an eccentrically-arrangedlongitudinal chan- A further object of the invention is the pronel a,conveniently located adjacent to the duction of a very simple switchwhich will offset 1) of the terminal B, for purposes pres- 5o embody thefewest possible number of movently to be stated. 10o

' h on the inner end of the bushing H.

The pushing or switch rod is of the following formations: F designates ametallic pin or stem having a threaded upper or outer end, on which isplaced an insulated handpiece G. H and H are metallic bushings arranged,

respectively, on the opposite ends of the pin F, while H is an insulatedbushing or sleeve, 7

conveniently of porcelain,interposed between the metallic bushings. Thebushings and insulated sleeve are held on the pin F in any convenientmanner, conveniently by the end of the handpiece and the pin K, passingthrough the transverse opening in the inner end of the bushing H andstem 1*. This pin K is bent outwardly parallel with the stem and isadapted to enter the pocket- 70 formed in the block, and thereby servesto prevent the rotation of the push-rod. To limit the outward movementof the push-rod, I con- Veniently form an enlargement or shoulder Thisshoulder is designed to come in contact with the terminal B when thepush-rod is drawn out to its full extent. The inward movement of thepush rod is limited by a shoulder formed on the handpiece, as shown, thesame engaging the cap-plate. In switches of this nature it is expedientand desirable to have some means of indicating that the rod has beenmoved to the proper point, and it is also necessary that a close contactbetween the metallic surfaces should be had when the circuit is formed.To provide for this, I have formed, conveniently, pockets in themetallic bushings and in the insulated sleeve. The pockets in the sleeveare arranged in close proximity to each other, and the distance from thepocket Z to the pocket 1 is the same as the distance from the pocket Zto the pocket 1 1 The block A is formed with two transverse chambers, inwhich are placed coil-springs L and L, the inner ends resting againstthe metallic balls M and M, which project partly through circularperforations formed in the terminals B and B, the diameter of theseperforations being less than the diameter of the balls, whereby theballs are prevented from being pushed through the openings in case thepush-rod is removed.

To retain the springs in their position in the chamber and vary thetension thereof, the insulated screw-plugs N are threaded in the outerends of the spring-containing chamhers.

The terminal B is of a length somewhat greater than the length of themetallic bushing H, while the-terminal B is substantially the length ofthe metallic bushing H, and the bushings are so located on the rod orstem that the bushing II will at all times be in contact or locatedwithin the terminal B, While the bushing H is at all times out ofcontact with the terminal B until the push-rod is drawn out, therebydrawing the bushing H into the hollow terminal B. This movement of thepush-rod carries the bushing H into the upper portion of the terminal B,thereby forming or completing the circuit through the metal stem.

The spring-pressed balls, it will be noticed, at all times press againstthe bushings and insulated collar and are so located relative to eachother that when the push-rod is forced in one of the balls will belocated in the pocket in the bushing H, while the other will be locatedin the pocket of the sleeve, and when the rod ispulled out the ballswill oc' cupy the pockets Z and Z As the balls are forced into thepockets there is an audible and perceptible click and a marked increasedresistance, indicating that the rod has been adjusted to the properpoint. This, as has been stated, is very desirable in this class ofswitches.

The constant pressure of the spring on the balls is sufficient to at alltimes force the bush ings and sleeve into close contact with theterminals, thereby taking up any wear which may occur after long use.

0 designates a cap fitted on the inner end of the block conveniently byscrews 0. This cap has two openings P and Q, through which wires X Xpass. The former is attached to the binding-post of the terminal B,while the latter is carried up through the channel a and is attached tothe binding-post of the terminal B. It will be noticed that the rotationof the switch-rod is prevented in a manner, as above stated, therebyholding the pockets in their proper position relative to the balls. Thisis also useful, inasmuch as it serves to indicate that the switch is nota turnswitch, thus avoiding confusion.

It is thought that from the above description the operation of theswitch will be readily understood. I would have it understood that I donot limit myself to the pocket construction described and shown, asobviously other arrangements as grooves or projections could beemployed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isc 1. In an electrical switch of thecharacter described, the combination with an insulating-block havingfixed terminals spaced apart and secured thereto, and a longitudinalbore of a reciprocating switch-rod having metal sections spaced apartand an interposed insulating-section, a chamber formed at the outer endof the block, a longitudinal channel formed in the block and conductors,one of which passes through said channel and is connected with the outerterminal, the other of which is connected with the inner terminal,substantially as described.

2. In a switch of the character described, the combination with aninsulating-block, of hollow terminals secured at the opposite ends ofthe block, conductors connected respectively with the terminals, areciprocating push-rod passing through the block andter- V minals andhaving on its opposite end metallie bushings and an interposedinsulatingsleeve, and yielding means carried by the block independent ofthe push-rod for forcing the push-rod firmly against the terminals,substantially as described.

3. In a-switch of the character described, the combination with aninsulating-block, of a reciprocating push-rod located therein, havingmetallic contact-surfaces and insulating-section interposed betweensame, each formed with depressions,sprin -pressed members secured in theblock arranged to engage in said depressions and terminals carried bythe block with which the insulating and metallic sections of thepush-rod engage, substantially as described.

4. In an electrical switch, the combination with an insulating-blockhaving terminals thereon, of a push-rod passing through the block andhaving metallic surfaces thereon one of which is in constant engagementwith one terminal while the other is arranged to engage the otherterminal only when the rod is moved outward, spring-pressed holdingdevices engaging depressions in the metallic surfaces, and means on therod for preventing rotation of the same, substantially as described.

5. In an electrical switch, the combination with an insulating-blockhaving hollow terminals at the opposite ends, of a reciprocatingpush-rod passing through the block and ter minals having metallicbushings thereon and an interposed insulating-sleeve each formed withpockets in their outer faces, and springpressed balls secured in theterminals and arranged to engage in the pockets.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL MEDARY.

Witnesses:

V CHATTIN BRADWAY,

'L. S. BACON.

